Intermittent drive with oscillating lever reset and electromagnetic release



TING LEVER 5 Sheets-Sheet l HENRY E. G. INTERMITTENT DRIVE WITH OSCILLA RESET AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELEASE W rs M Iw/niar'. 5771c? H Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 Jan. 2, 1951 E G HENRY 2,536,744

INTERMITTENT DRTVEWITH OSCILLATING LEVER RESET AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELEASE Filed Oct. 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1951 E. ca. HENRY 2,536,744

INTERMITTENT DRIVE WITH OSCILLATING LEVER RESET AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELEASE Filed Oct. 19. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1% I/fi for! Karla 6. He 71g- J I? far/15y.

Jan. 2, 1951 E. G. HENRY 2,536,744

INTERMITTENT DRIVE WITH OSCILLATING LEVER RESET AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELEASE Filed Oct. 19, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 2, 1951 E. a. HENRY INTERMITTENT DRIVE WITH OSCILLATING LEVER RESET AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RELEASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 4 0 an W m a: M J o M Z 5 9 m 4 v WI 1 I m j m 2 n? 4 H wiwjjh i9 5 r'ii "Lin. O

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 INTERMITTENT DRIVE WITH 'OSCILLATING LEVER RESET AND RELEASE ELECTROMAGNETIC Earle G. Henry, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, 111.

Application October-19, 1946, Serial No. 704,457

11 Claims.

This invention pertains to photoelectric marksmanship apparatus and'to improvements in control mechanisms therefor.

A principal object of the invention is the pro- Vision of marksmanship apparatus employing at least two aiming pieces or light guns aimable at the same photoelectric target, and control mechanism of electro-mechanical nature functioning so that a hit may be scored by eigher gun alone, or. by two guns, as in a competitive game of skill.

Aiurther object is the provision of apparatus ofjthe class described in which the guns are coincontrolled so that one or the other may be used upon deposit of a proper coin, or the two guns may be used simultaneously upon deposit of two coins.

Another important object is the provision of electro-mechanical control mechanism common to the two guns but enabling registration of either or both guns hits, said mechanism further controlling certain rapid-fire operations of either .orlboth guns, said mechanism further limiting the number of shots afiorded either gun by coin release; said mechanism further controlling cer- Fig. 4 is a vertical endwise view, partly in section, of said control mechanism looking in the direction of lines 44 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of oertain control switch means of said mechanism, looking in the direction of lines 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken along lines Ei6 of Fig. 4

Fig. 7 is a perspective fragmentary detail of the reset lever in said control mechanism;

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1, wherein there are shown two guns l0 and II each provided with a trigger I2 or !3 for closing associated switch contacts [4 or l5, respectively.

Each gun also has a lamp 16 for projecting light through its barrel, said light being emitted tai'n hit'and score circuits for either or both Additional objects are: the provision of a control mechanism of the class described which times theshots of the guns; which insures rapid alternate action of at least two guns, which counts stallations, other than that illustrated herein, for

which its use is suited, as will appear to those skilled in the art.

.Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility will appear as the following description proceeds in view of the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. l is a schematic circuit and structural diagram of a dual gun game employing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of said mechanism, taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 4;

through the barrel provided the corresponding electromagnetic shutter I! or [8 is properly actuated by the corresponding electromagnetic coil means l9 or 2B, the light from said guns being aimed at photocell means 2| in a preferably moving target device 22, illustrated herein as pivoting for oscillation about axis 23, the lightactivated response of said photocell means being amplified by photoelectric amplifier 24 of known construction, and the output of said amplifier, responsive to a hit, actuating certain score register means as will appear hereinafter.

Circuit and electromechanical means for controlling the operation and scoring of hits by the guns includes a pair of ratchet discs 25 and 21 each arranged to be advanced from a starting position, step by step, by corresponding pawls 28 and 29, which in turn-are advanced by springs 30 or 3| normally urging corresponding levers 32 or 33, pivoted as at 34, in such advancing action.

Advancing springs 38 and 3| are tensioned by intermittent oscillations of a Z-shaped reset lever 35, pivoted as at 36, and oscillated by crank means 31 driven by motor 38. As each advancing lever 32 or 33 is reset by alternate movements of the Z lever, and the corresponding springs 30 and 3| are tensioned, said advancing levers are automatically locked in set condition by corresponding spring-urged plungers 40 or 4 I, either of which may be withdrawn from looking position by energization of the corresponding solenoid coil springs 44 or 45 by such advance, and the discs being restrained against retrograde or return movement by corresponding holding pawls 46 or 4?, either of which may be released or withdrawn by energization of a corresponding reset solenoid coil 63 or 9, thus permitting the corresponding ratchet disc to be spring-restored to starting position.

The number of teeth on each ratchet disc determines the permitted number of shots, said discs being mechanically stopped in either direction by stop arms 59 or 5! respectively, pivoted thereon (coaxially with the rotative axes thereof) to strike against correspondingstop pins 52 or 53 when corresponding stop studs 54 or 55 bear against either side of the corresponding stop arms in opposite rotative motions of their respective discs.

Scoring is controlled and registered as follows: the apparatus is preferably arranged for coin operation, there being two conventional coin chutes associated therewith, one for each gun; deposit of a proper coin in either chute closes a known type of time switch 66 or 6 i thus setting up a master power circuit from either battery or power source '62, one terminal of which is grounded or common, as at 63, the remaining terminal of said power source being connected through switch contacts 65 or 5!, closed for a predeterminedtime of playfcontrolled by known time mechanism (not shown because common in the art) and conductor 6 to motor 38 and common power lead 65, assuming time switch 5!] to be the one that has been coin-operated. If coin switch 6i has been operated, a similar power circuit is set up from source'fiZ through contacts 6!, conductor 65 to power lead 85A, which will also energize motor 38 via conductor 64.

Operation of either coin switch as aforesaid will also close a reset switch 58 or 59 momentarily by passage of the coin through the chute in the well-known manner; if reset switch '68 is the one closed, power source 32 is connected via conductor iii to reset coil 58 for ratchet disc '26, and also to reset coil 72 for the corresponding score register device M, which is an electromagne call'y advanced and reset ratchet device similar to the ratchet devices 26 and 21 in that the score registers are advanced by electromagnetic impulse and reset to zero by electromagnetically released pawlmeans. Such score registers are well-known in the art and are therefore not "shown in structural detail.

If reset switch S9 is the one operated, then a power circuit is momentarily closed from source 62 via conductor H through reset coil 13 to restore score register 15 to zero and energize the reset coil 19 for ratchet disc 21.

I "If coins are deposited simultaneously in both coin chutes, both time switches will remain closed for the allotted time, and both score registers willjbe zeroized as aforesaid.

V Assuming that one or the other, or both, coin switches are actuated as aforesaid, then in addition to zeroizing of the score registers, reset pawls M5 andzor ill will be momentarily withdrawn, and ratchet discs 28 andzor 21 will return to starting position; meanwhile, motor 38 will be running to oscillate the reset lever 35, so that the advancing levers 32 and 33 are continually and rapidly being urged in restorative action, and no shots havebeen taken at the guns, 'these levers will remain locked by their respective locking plung- 3% and Assuming that trigger [2 is pulled in accurate aim upon photocell target 2!, the result is energization of release solenoid 42 from common power lead 65 via trigger switch contacts l4, closed, and conductor 80, thereby withdrawing locking plunger 46 so that spring 30 may rock lever 32 and advance pawl 28 to move ratchet disc 25 one tooth. L s W s A further and important function of advancing lever 32 in movement as aforesaid is to close switch contacts BI and 82 momentarilly (until the lever is reset); this results in energization of shuttercoil 19 from power lead 65 through contacts 82, closed, to ground, thereby causing shutter 11 to open momentarily and permit light from lamp It to impinge upon the photocell target 2 Lass'uming the aim to be accurate.

Activation of the photocell 2| impulses the amplifier input of the P. E. amplifier 24, which in turn impulses relay winding 83, closing hit relay contacts 84 and applying power from lead 65 via conductor 85 to one of the now closed contacts "8|, so that score register coil 16 is energized via conductor 85, thereby setting up one hit on score register 14.

Should trigger I3 on the other gun be the one closed, then 'a similar train of events would occur in the corresponding control circuit and mech anisin, that is to say, trigger switch contacts 15 would close to energizerelease coil 43 from power lead '6 5A, causing advancing lever 33 to be spring moved, thereby closing supervisory contacts 98 to energize shutter coil 20 via conductor 9 I and also closing supervisory contacts '93 so that if a'hit is scored and hit relay contacts '8 are accordingly closed, score register operating coil I1 'will be energized from conductor '85 via conductor 94 to advance register 15 to indicate one hit.

The motor driven reset means 38, 31, 35 is regulated to eiTe'ct closure of the supervisory switch means 81 82 or '-93 at a rate of about 429 times per minute; thus if the triggers are held down for a minute, shutters I1 and [8 would open and close in simulated rapid-fire action equivalent to 420 shots per minute; in practice, solenoids l9 and 23 'for the shutters are -also sound producers, simulating gun fire at the stated rate.

If the players or marksmen do not take their allotted number of shots in the time determined by running of conventional time switch means 6%, iii, the latter will open, thereby disabling (disconnecting the, operating 'power) for thecorresponding "gun unit; however, motor 38 will conclosures; thus no -fur'ther 'shot's'can be taken and no hits can be scored for that gun whose ratchet disc means has been advanced to the permitted limit of shots.

Ratchet discs 26 and 2'! will stand in their respectively advanced conditions, as will "the corresponding score registers, until another coin -is deposited, whereupon the aforesaid zeroising operation will occur and the operative cycle may be repeated. 1 v V I It is important 'to "observe that no hits can be scored unless the triggerswitch means and associated supervisory switch means are closed, so that fraudulent or accidental running up of scores, as by use of a flashlight, is rendered very difiicult. If both guns are fired simultaneously, only one will score a hit during the interval of a single shot, which is to say a single oscillation of the reset lever means 35, so that fractional shots are avoided. However, the oscillation of lever 35 is so very rapid that as a practical mat ter both guns have equal opportunity to score competitively.

In the prior art, dual gun games are known, there being a type which operates upon frequency discriminative principles in the photoelectric circuits. Mechanical and electro-mechanical types are also known, but this present invention and disclosure affords a unitary control means which is itself novel, as well as control circuit arrangements affording a relatively simple, inexpensive, easily serviced, and functionally attractive apparatus which is equally satisfactory for individual or competitive operation.

Control unit structure Referring to Fig. 4, the unit consists of a pair of upright plates IOI, I02 having offset foot portions IOIA and I02A to facilitate mounting; a spindle I is journaled between these plates and outboard straps IOIB and H123; motor 38 and a gear reduction unit 38A are mounted on the outside of plate IOI (see also Fig. 2).

Motor-driven crank 31A (Figs. 3, 4, 6) through crank lever 31 connects to the bottom of the re" set oscillatory lever journaled on one of a set of bushings )4 on spindle I00, the Z-shaped reset offsets 35A, 35B (Figs. 3 and 4) at the top thereof each aligned with its reset lever 32 or 33, said levers likewise being journaled on one of the set of bushings I04 on spindle I00. A detail of the Z-shaped reset structure is shown in Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the upper extremities of the reset levers 32, 33, are tapered as at 33A, Fig. 3, and extend through slots in guide plates I06 fastened on the mounting plates, above which said tapered portions confront respectively their supervisory switch units 90, 93 (or 8|, 82, Fig. 5), said switch unitsbeing respectively mounted on brackets I01 secured to the mounting plates IOI and I02 on their respective sides of the unit, Fig. 5.

Beneath each said switch unit is a corresponding release solenoid coil 42 or 43, Figs. 4 and 5, secured to the corresponding mounting plate by bracket means I08 on the mounting plates, and, as inFig. 4, each said coil has a locking plunger or normally projected into the path of the corresponding lever 32 or 33 by spring means internal of the coils and hence not visible; energization of these release coils causes withdrawal of said plungers as heretofore described in view of Fig. 1, so that the levers 32 or 33 may be sprung forward to close their respective supervisory switches. When any lever 32 or 33 has been plunger released and started switch-operating movement, it will block full return of the corresponding solenoid plunger 40 or M even though the corresponding solenoid coil may be de-energized, and such action is assured by provision of an enlarged head portion 40A or 4IA, Fig. 4 which will ride against the corresponding lever until the latter shall have been fully reset to normal locking condition, at which time the corresponding plunger will spring to full blocking position'ag'ain, 3....

is journaled by one of the set of bushings I04, as

shown in Fig. 4, on spindle I00; return springs 44 and '45, respectively, for these discs are seen in Fig. 4 on the outboard portions of spindle I00, the outer ends of these springs being anchored in straps I MB and I02B, respectively, ans. the inner ends of these springs being respectively secured in the corresponding disc bushings, the latter being fast with their ratchet discs so that said springs are tensioned torsionally by advance of the discs and will restore the latter in retrograde motion when the releasing pawls are withdrawn. a

Advancing and holding pawl means for the two discs appears in Fig. 3, wherein the advancing pawl 28 for disc 26 (one-half section of which appears in this view, along with a half-section of the companion disc 21) is pivoted on lpin means 30A, and is urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth by small spring 28B; similarly, the other advancing pawl 29 is pivoted on pin 33A on lever 33, and since pin 30A is carried by lever 32,

'both pawls are advanced with their respective levers when the latter are released, pawl 29 being held in engagement with the teeth of ratchet disc 21, so that thediscs will be advanced by one tooth responsive to each such lever release.

. Retrograde motion of disc 26 is prevented by holding pawl 46, Fig. 3, pivoted on cross pin 30B and normally held in engagement with the I ratchet teeth by spring 46A, while the companion disc 21 is prevented from retrograde motion by holding pawl 41 pivoted on crosspin 33B and is similarly held in engagement with the ratchet teeth by its spring 41A.

Both holding pawls are released by energization of their respective release solenoids 48 (Fig. 2) or 49 (Fig. 3) mounted respectively on-the outside of plates IOI and I02. Solenoid 48 (Fig. 2) has a slotted plunger portion 48A into which fits a pin' 463 on the rounded end 46A of holding pawl 46, so that when the solenoid coil is energized as heretofore explained, pawl 43 rocks anticlockwise out of holding engagement with the teeth of ratchet disc 23, and the latter is free to be restored by torsion spring 44 to normal starting position. Pawl 41 is similarly released by energization of its solenoid coil 49, Fig. 3, pulling down its plunger so that the slotted end portion 49A draws pin 49B downwardly, (see also Fig. 6 for this pin linkage) and rocking pawl-41 clockwise from teeth on ratchet disc 21.

Means for stopping both ratchet discs in either direction of travel includes, Fig. 3, an arm 50, loosely carried on one of the set of bushings I04 on spindle I00, the end of said arm being free to travel the short distance between stop, pins 52, which are also utilized as assembly studs to hold the main mounting plates in spaced assembled relation, there being a stop stud or pin 54 on disc 26 which will come around from either direction to engage stop arm 50 and carry the latter against one or the other of the stop pins 52, depending upon the direction of travel of the disc. Similarly, stop arm 5|, also free on spindle I00, will be carried by pin 55 on disc 21 against as 6 or the other of stop studs 53 to limit travel of this disc. Arms 50 and are cut away or relieved, as at 50A and 5IA, respectively to receive corresponding stop pins 54 or 55 to permit greater travel of the discs and utilization of a maximum number of teeth, corresponding to a maximum number of permitted shots.

It will be apparent that the novel control unit is adapted to other applications than that illustrated in conjunction with the marksmanship apparatus described; for example it is similarly useful in a variety of dual-control or competitive amusement apparatus installations, as will occur to those skilled in the art.

It is the intention that the scope of the invention "and improvements originating with this disclosure shall not be limited to precise details of function or structure shown or described herein, excepting as fairly required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Control mechanism comprising a pair of ratchet discs rotatable on a common-axis, a lever for each disc oscillatable co'axially therewith, advancing pawl means moved by' each lever in opposit directions for advancing a corresponding disc, spring means urging each lever in advancing operation, releasable means locking each lever in set condition against advancing opera= tion, releasable pawl means for each disc holding the same against retrograde movement, spring means urging said-discs in retrograde movement, a reset lever oscillatable coaxially of said discs and levers for moving the discsinto set condition, said releasable locking means automatically locking the corresponding levers in set condition when moved thereto as aforesaid, means for oscillating said reset lever, means 'for selectively releasing said holding pawl means, and means for limiting the rotativ'emotion of said discs in opposit directions.

2. Mechanism as defined in' claim 1 and further characterized in that said releasable looking means comprises in each case a plunger 'reciprocable normally to the plane of movement of a corresponding lever and is yieldingly urged into blocking position relative to advance of said lever and is further withdrawable from blocking position as aforesaid,said plunger having an en'-' larged head bearing against the corresponding lever to prevent return of th plunger to blocking position until said lever 'shall have returned a predetermined amount toward setconditicn.

3. Control mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet discs freely rotatable onsaid spindle, a pair of levers freely rockable on sai spindle betwe'ensaid discs, a reset lever freely oscillatable on said spindle between said levers and having extensions engageable with each lever for rocking the latter in opposite directions responsive tooscillation of the reset lever, means 'yieldingly urging each lever in a direction opposite to the direction of movement thereof by said oscillatable lever, an advancingipawl moved by each lever in the yieldingly urged movement thereof for advancing a corresponding disc, re'- leasable holding pawl means "for each said-disc preventing retrograde motion thereof, spring means urging each disc in retrograde motion,

'st'op means limiting retrograde motion of each disc, motor means for oscillating said oscillatable lever, releasable means automatically locking each said rockable lever from movement from a set position bysaid yieldingly urging means, said oscillatablelever moving each lever inal- 8. ternation to said set position responsive to cs cillation as aforesaid.

4. Control mechanism as defined in claim .3 and further characterized by the provision of supervisory control means operated by each said rockable lever in one phase, at least, of opposite motion thereof.

5. A ratchet-type control unit comprising at least two ratchet discs mounted for motion about a common axis, a spring-driven advancing pawl for each disc, asetting member common to :said pawls, a motor cyclically actuatingsaid setting member to retract said pawls to set condition once each cycle, and a lockin member yieldingly urged into locking position for each said pawl to hold the latter in set condition, and separate means for moving each said locking members into release position to release the corresponding pawl for advancing action. v

6. Mechanism as set forth in claim 5 and fur: ther characterized by the provision therein of means limiting rotation of said discs in opposite directions, means yieldably urging said discs to that one of said limits which is in the direction opposite from the discs advancing movement, a holding pawl for each disc to hold the advance thereof, and means for releasing said holding pawls.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said lockin members are spring-urged into locking position transversel of the advancing movement of the corresponding pawls and are each provided with head portions enlarged to be engaged by their respective .pawls during advance and partial return motion whereby any locking member will be held by its pawl in released condition until said pawl has been reset apredetermined amount of its resetting travel.

8-. A rapid-action control uni-t for competitive amusement and training devices, and comprising at least two ratchet wheels mounted on a common spindle, means limiting rotation of said wheelsin opposite directions, sprin means urging each'said Wheel to one-of said limits,= aspringdriven advance lever for each disc oscillatable on said spindle, an advancing pawl for each disc driven by one of said layers eachin a direction opposite to the other whereby said wheels are oppositely advanced, a releasable holding pawl to hold the advance of each wheel, means for releasing said holding pawls, a reset member common 'to' said advance levers and oscillatable onsaid spindle to reset each said advance lever, each in a direction opposite to the resetting motion of the other, from advanced to normal latched condition, saidlevers being subjected to each resetting action once per period ofoscillation of the common-reset membtnmeansfor each said advance lever for latching the same in normal reset condition-electromagnetic means for releasing each said latch means, and a control instrumentably actuated by each said advancing lever.

9; A- rapid-action step-up unit comprising at least a pair of coaxiallyrotatable ratchetdiscs having their teeth reversely pitched, means yieldingly and oppositely urging each disc in a first direction, means for stopping each disc at certain limits in either direction; a drive lever for each disc and osc'illatable coaxially of the discs, advancing pawl means for each disc and respectively actuatedby the corresponding drive lever to advance the corresponding disc in a second direction, releasable means for holding the gain of each disc in said second direction, and a resetlever common to said drive levers and oscillatable coaxially therewith. means moved by said reset lever to engage each drive lever once per cycle of oscillation of the latter toward a starting position oppositely from its spring-advanced direction, and means releasably holding said drive levers in starting position, the ratchet mechanisms of said unit being adapted to actuate a control instrumentably.

l0. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said locking members are spring-urged into locking position transversely of the advancing movement of the corresponding pawls and are each provided with head portions enlarged to be engaged by their respective pawls during advance and partial return motion whereby any locking member will be held by its pawl in released condition until said pawl has been reset a predetermined amount of its resettin travel.

11. In a ratchet mechanism, at least two reversely movable ratchet members, means yieldingly urging said ratchet members respectively in a certain direction, driving means for each said ratchet member and operable to advance the latter oppositely to said direction, releasable holding means for each said ratchet member to releasably hold the same in advanced position,

means yieldingly urging said driving means in advancing action from a set position, mechanism common to said driving means for moving the same into said set position, selectively releasable locking means for holding said drivin means respectively in set position, and means for selectively releasing said locking means and said holding means.

EARLE G. HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

